Application of selected ion monitoring technique for quantitative determination of picomole levels of pyrrolidine in the brain

Identification and quantification of 5-hydroxypipecolic acid and hydroxyproline in mammalian brain and blood by selected ion monitoring

A method for the analysis of 5-hydroxypipecolic acid and 4-hydroxyproline in mammalian brain and blood is reported. The identification and quantification of the two hydroxyimino acids were accomplished with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry including a selected ion-monitoring technique following HPLC prepurification. The lower limit of detection for the method is 2 to 10 pmol. The amounts of 5-hydroxypipecolic acid and 4-hydroxyproline in blood were 20 to 30 pmol/ml and 3 to 6 nmol/ml, respectively. Their concentrations in the rabbit whole brain were determined to be 5 and 120 pmol/g, respectively.

Analysis of endogenous pyrrolidine levels by mass fragmentography

Pyrrolidine, one of biogenic volatile amines, possesses nicotine-like synaptotropic actions on the nervous systems. In the present study, pyrrolidine levels in the tissues were examined by using mass fragmentographic technique. High concentrations of pyrrolidine were found in the seminal vesicle and lung of rabbits. Only trace amounts of pyrrolidine existed in the brain of mice and rats, although higher concentrations were detected in the brain of rabbits. In the rat brain, however, high levels of pyrrolidine were found in the pineal gland, pituitary gland and corpus striatum.